{"id":41603,"date":"2017-11-30T11:18:14","date_gmt":"2017-11-30T19:18:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/world.edu\/?p=41603"},"modified":"2017-11-30T11:18:14","modified_gmt":"2017-11-30T19:18:14","slug":"supporting-part-time-online-learners-key-reducing-university-dropout-rates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/supporting-part-time-online-learners-key-reducing-university-dropout-rates\/","title":{"rendered":"Supporting part-time and online learners is key to reducing university dropout rates"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nThe most recent statistics show\u00a0first-year attrition rates<\/a>\u00a0in Australian universities are at 15%. This has caused the Minister for Education and Training, Simon Birmingham, to\u00a0say<\/a>\u00a0universities \u201cneed to be taking responsibility for the students they enrol.\u201d<\/p>\n

Attrition does not mean dropping out. It just means the student did not continue their study in the following year. For example, attrition includes students who suspend studies due to personal circumstances, but return to study a later year. However, the\u00a0evidence<\/a>\u00a0is that most students who discontinue their studies do not end up completing.<\/p>\n

How does Australia compare to other countries?<\/h2>\n

To analyse comparative performance, we looked at attrition rates in a number of countries, as well as regions within some countries. As with Australia, most countries focus their attention on nationals (that is, not international students) entering university for the first time.<\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s national attrition rate was 14.97%, with institutions ranging as low as 3.92% and as high as 38%. The best-performing state was New South Wales and the worst was Tasmania. Of 39 institutions, 12 had an attrition rate over 20%.<\/p>\n

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National and State attrition rates, 2016<\/b><\/span><\/h1>\n

New Adjusted Attrition Rate for domestic commencing bachelor students<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
NSW<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
12.69%<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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ACT<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
13.55%<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Victoria<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
13.67%<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Multi-state<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
13.8%<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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SA<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
14.38%<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Total<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
14.97%<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Queensland<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
15.72%<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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WA<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
16.05%<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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NT<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
26.08%<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Tasmania<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
33.64%<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The New Adjusted Attrition rate for year is the proportion of students who commenced a course in year who neither complete in year or year nor return in year. If a student moves from one institution to another in the following year, he or she would be counted as retained in the new adjusted attrition rate calculation. It is only those students who left the higher education system entirely that are counted as attrited.<\/div>\n
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Source:\u00a0Department of Education and Training<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland<\/a>\u00a0and Ireland all performed better than Australia.<\/p>\n